Flight cancelled, need to rebook from another airport, can we claim expenses?

Alibuster01

EasyJet have cancelled our return flights to Spain on 15 Sept.  We need to go and can book to go from Manchester instead of Newcastle a few days later.  Will they refund our costs to get to and from Manchester from Newcastle and any accommodation costs for an overnight stay in order to get the flight in the morning?  We've read all their bumpf and can't make it out.  
I don't know if they will just refund the Newcastle flights and treat Manchester flights as a new booking - so no help with expenses.

Thrugelmir

Aren't Easyjet closing their Newcastle base?  

Etch

Thrugelmir said:

Aren't Easyjet closing their Newcastle base?  

Quite possibly - that would explain why the OP wants to fly from Manchester instead!

epm-84

Did you book just flights with Easyjet or a package with Easyjet holidays or another provider?

If you booked just flights then all you're entitled to is a full refund for your flight costs and that's a proper refund, you don't have to accept a voucher or an offer to change your booking to Manchester flights.

It looks like Easyjet only offered 3 Spain routes from Newcastle - Malaga, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca.  For any of those you don't have to fly from Manchester with Easyjet if the flight times aren't convenient  - there are alternative options from other airports in the north of England/southern Scotland and with other airlines.  If it's the Costa del Sol you are going to then note there's also a Manchester-Gibraltar route with coaches running from the Gibraltar/Spain border (2 min walk from the airport) to both Marbella and Malaga, which may be cheaper than flying to Malaga.

Although, note the foreign office currently advise against travel to Spain so even if you are insured for cancelled trips due to foreign office advice relating to COVID-19, you'll unlikely to be once you rebook your flights.

Alibuster01

Unfortunately I have to go to Barcelona to deal with my deceased parent's property.  So it's just looking like a refund then new booking.  Thanks for your help!

silvercar

Personally I would think twice about booking flights to Gibraltar to get to Spain. If the rates in southern Spain increased and those in Gibraltar remain low, it would not be impossible for the Gibraltar government to close the border to non-Spaniards to reduce the risk of tourists bringing covid-19 across the border. Then you would be left with flights to Gibraltar and accommodation in Spain.

The_Fat_Controller

Closing bases does not mean the routes will cease, just no aircraft BASED at that airport.
If the flights have been cancelled, you'll be refunded.
You can book alternatives with any airline from any airport, but Easyjet are not obliged to pay any of your extra costs.

epm-84

silvercar said:

Personally I would think twice about booking flights to Gibraltar to get to Spain. If the rates in southern Spain increased and those in Gibraltar remain low, it would not be impossible for the Gibraltar government to close the border to non-Spaniards to reduce the risk of tourists bringing covid-19 across the border. Then you would be left with flights to Gibraltar and accommodation in Spain.

True. Although, at the current time the border between Spain and Gibraltar is open and it would mean any travel insurance covers flights to Gibraltar, even if flights to Spain may not be covered due to FCO advising against travel. Also the 14 day quarantine would start when you cross the Spain/Gibraltar border, not when you arrive back in the UK so it would be possible to spend a couple of days enjoying Gibraltar instead of being stuck at home. 

epm-84

Alibuster01 said:

Unfortunately I have to go to Barcelona to deal with my deceased parent's property.  So it's just looking like a refund then new booking.  Thanks for your help!

In the case of Barcelona - lots of airport and airline options. You could also look at Girona as an alternative if you wanted.

Thrugelmir

The_Fat_Controller said:

Closing bases does not mean the routes will cease, just no aircraft BASED at that airport.

Nope, all international flights will cease by end of October. Only destinations then served will be Belfast and Bristol. 
Easyjet like many other airlines is going to be considerably smaller for a while. 

rosiesposies

No you won’t be entitled to claim expenses, just a full refund of the airfare